2012 Catch-All Trade Deadline Thread

[example1]

It's never too early for a good trade deadline speculation thread!

 

The Sox have a number of tradeable pieces at this point, including prospects who are more-or -less ready (Lavarnway, Iglesias, Middlebrooks), high upside prospects who aren't ready yet (too many to mention) and MLB pieces who might interest contending teams (Youkilis, Beckett, Lester (?) ).

 

Top priorities:

- Top tier SP

- Relief help

- OF help

- Prospects (?)

 

I think the Sox will still be in contention when the deadline arrives, even if they are only playing about .500 baseball. With Ellsbury and Crawford, Bailey, Dice-K and Melancon hopefully returning they should have quite a few new faces around in July.

 

Load up for 2012? Punt on 2012 in favor of 2013?

 

All of these things and more can be discussed in this wonderful catch-all thread.

[Palodios]

I've mentioned it a few times in other threads, but I think this is a good year to punt on the season and trade in expiring contracts to the massive number of contending teams. The two of the last three years, the FO has tried to hold on to a hopeless season, and wasted trade chips and avoided earning big windfalls. I haven't done the math but I think trading Beckett and Youkilis could get them under the luxury cap.

 

This is Beckett's last good year. His fastball speed is declining every year, and he's reaching the point in the contract where he'll stop being worth the money. He's good enough that a desperate contender would be willing to pay for the full contract and give up one, maybe two elite pitching prospects in return for him.

 

This is Youkilis's last year in a Red Sox uniform. Why not see what they can get in return for him?

 

Dump Salty. He's got a .860 OPS with a .300 OBP and some have suggested he may get an All-star nod. Someone will want him, but he's such a liability on the defensive end.

[Dojji]

We should sell. Salty should have value on the trade market and we can replace him. Ditto with Youk

[Station 13]

Bard/Doubie are untouchable as far as pitching is concerned. I love to see Bard succeed as a starter, but each day it's becoming less and less likely. He could return to the bullpen as an elite arm he was for 3 year. Let's hope the loss 5MPH is just a dead arm issue.

[Dojji]

I'm not sure why people thought Bard's transition to the rotation would look anything different from this. Personally I'm far more encouraged than discouraged. And I'd say that yes, Bard stas where he is until he hits his innings cap.

[a700hitter]

It's never too early for a good trade deadline speculation thread!

 

The Sox have a number of tradeable pieces at this point, including prospects who are more-or -less ready (Lavarnway, Iglesias, Middlebrooks), high upside prospects who aren't ready yet (too many to mention) and MLB pieces who might interest contending teams (Youkilis, Beckett, Lester (?) ).

 

Top priorities:

- Top tier SP

- Relief help

- OF help

- Prospects (?)

 

I think the Sox will still be in contention when the deadline arrives, even if they are only playing about .500 baseball. With Ellsbury and Crawford, Bailey, Dice-K and Melancon hopefully returning they should have quite a few new faces around in July.

 

Load up for 2012? Punt on 2012 in favor of 2013?

 

All of these things and more can be discussed in this wonderful catch-all thread.

E1, I was with you when you said that the Sox would still be in contention if they were at .500 when the injured players started to return, but then you lost me when you included Dice K and Melancon as being helpful. That is not a reasonable expectation.

[FredLynn]

Good and timely thread E1. I would think that this is a good year to sell, if we can find buyers. If we can unload some of the more expensive contracts like those that Beckett and Lackey have, we ought to go for it. Youkilis still has value, and when he departs at the end of the year we will get less in return, most likely, that if we traded him in July. I would also not hesitate to put Lester on the block as well, and Saltalamacchia, of course. Buchholtz too. Yeah, I know that we will rape our starting pitching this year, but look where these guys have gotten us for the past few years: nowhere. I am not advocating giving anyone away (except for Lackey, who I would give away to anyone who is willing to take on his contract). We should be getting quality in return for each trade. Time to flush this toilet though...time to retool.

[Rdsxmbnt]

There's no reason to make any sudden moves. Youk looks good coming off the DL and another month or so at .900+ OPS production will skyrocket his value to a team needing hitting. This move can be made whether they are in it or not due to WMB.

 

Depending on how they are doing in standings in two months they should think about trading Beckett. He looks dam good right now and could certainly command 2 top prospects. Would also help remove some salary and rebuild some of the pitching depth on the farm.

 

No one is touching Lackey so a non-issue really.

 

 

But if they are in it then what they really just need is a Matt Garza type SP. Move Bard to the bullpen, and then use the prospects from Youkilis and add in someone like Lavarnway, Ranuado. Brentz to get a consistent #2/#3 type SP

[onlybereaved]

Personally, I would like to see Beckett/Aviles/Youk/Salty dealt. We should be able to obtain some return on those guys.

 

Middlebrooks by all means should be retained and play as much as possible IMO.

[jacksonianmarch]

I'm not sure why people thought Bard's transition to the rotation would look anything different from this. Personally I'm far more encouraged than discouraged. And I'd say that yes' date=' Bard stas where he is until he hits his innings cap.[/quote']

 

Dojji, can you be anything but a rosey glassed fool here? You really think everyone should have expected Bard to have no power and no location when moved to the pen? Were you really expecting Daniel Bard to turn into Jeff Karstens or Kyle Weiland? Cause if you were, then you need to play the lotto.

[jacksonianmarch]

I was literally going to create this same thread last night, but had other things to do.

 

There are three phases to this discussion....

 

The first phase is to determine what your team will be, a seller, a buyer or a holder

 

The second is to determine which teams are out of it.

 

The third is to determine which players on those teams would be upgrades and part of that is taking into account players that have no shot of being dealt (ie nobody should be pining for Carlos Gonzalez from the Rockies, he aint getting traded)...

 

Thus far, I still think the Sox and the Yanks are buyers at the deadline.

 

Teams that are out of it right now are...

Minnesota Twins

KC Royals

Seattle Mariners

Oakland A's

Chicago Cubs

San Diego Padres

Colorado Rockies

[SoxFanForsyth]

Yeah I have to expect that the Sox will be buyers this trade deadline. They are 2.5 games back in the WC right now, as bad as the season has been. I can't imagine that they will be dealers instead of buyers if they can even stay in sniffing distance. If the ChiSox hold on. The Sox will only be 4 back in the L column from the Rays, and I'm sorry but I'm not worried about the Orioles, so for all intents and purposes, the Rays are the 1st place team today, even if they lose and the O's win.

 

Anyway. With Ellsbury, Crawford, Ross, and Bailey all coming off of the DL around mid season, I would definitely expect the Sox to go for it this year.

[Station 13]

I'm not sure why people thought Bard's transition to the rotation would look anything different from this. Personally I'm far more encouraged than discouraged. And I'd say that yes' date=' Bard stas where he is until he hits his innings cap.[/quote']

 

How do you explain the huge loss in velocity? He's not much throwing 91-92, I would like to see him throw 93-96 as he did during spring training.

[Dojji]

How do you explain the huge loss in velocity?

 

How do you explain that you didn't expect it? He's putting more wear on that arm in a 5 day stretch than he ever did as an RP. It's one of the reasons you njeed to put a kid like that on an innings cap.

 

 

Would be nice, and I do expect it to happen once he's got his shoulder strengthened up for starting duty.

[jacksonianmarch]

How do you explain that you didn't expect it? He's putting more wear on that arm in a 5 day stretch than he ever did as an RP. It's one of the reasons you njeed to put a kid like that on an innings cap.

 

He's not much throwing 91-92, I would like to see him throw 93-96 as he did during spring training

 

Would be nice, and I do expect it to happen once he's got his shoulder strengthened up for starting duty.

 

You expected that he'd go from 98 to 91? You're so full of s***

[mvp 78]

You expected that he'd go from 98 to 91? You're so full of s***

 

http://www.oilogosphere.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/le.jpg

[seabeachfred]

EX1 brought up a good topic, but just to make sure he was on the sunny side of the street, YOU weren't talking about trading Middlebrooks and Lavarnway, were you? That would be absolutely insane. These are two right handed power hitting players who have a big upside and a great future if the front office will stop screwing around and put these in the lineup and keep them there. Unless we're talking about a King Felix we don't trade either one of these guys. We should be talking right now with someone for Youkilis before he get wounded again and goes back on the DL. If that happens another plan of our bungling front office blows up in their face. It's a wonder they have any face left after all their blunders the past few years. Does anyone know of any credible starting pitchers who might be on the block right now? I mean the way Shitbag Lester and Turd Buchholz have been pitching it wouldn't be much of a loss to toss them aside. And I still insist Bard belongs in the bullpen. Is it still possible Lester and Bucky could rebound? It's getting tougher to seeing that happen.

[Spitball]

The trade deadline thread is always one of my favorites...but it is still two months away!

 

If they are in contention, I would rather see the Red Sox go for Ryan Dempster than Matt Garza.

 

Due to free agency status, Dempster would be cheaper in terms of prospects. Plus, I think he is a more consistent pitcher and a more level headed individual.

[SoxFanForsyth]

You expected that he'd go from 98 to 91? You're so full of s***

 

Yeah. Even the most pessimistic person would expect 94 at about the lowest. I was expecting him to sit in the mid 95s myself.

[Station 13]

Yeah. Even the most pessimistic person would expect 94 at about the lowest. I was expecting him to sit in the mid 95s myself.

 

That's where he was early this season and in spring.

[SoxSport]

They'll wind up trading Youks before the deadline at 50 cents on the dollar--maybe to the Reds.

I don't think Youkilis was physically able to make the adjustment back to 3B at his age.

[evilhand]

The Cubs are letting teams know that nearly everyone but starter Jeff Samardzija is available, two high-ranking team officials told USA TODAY Sports on condition of anonymity because of competitive reasons.

 

Matt Garza and Ryan Dempster are veterans starters who can fill out the top of a rotation for a contender. Shortstop Starlin Castro already is a star at 22 but can be obtained for two impact prospects.

 

And the Cubs gladly will chip in cash for a team to take left fielder Alfonso Soriano and the more than $45 million left on his contract.

 

http://www.freep.com/usatoday/article/55293118?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Detroit%20Tigers|p

 

Seems like Garza could be a really big pick up for this team and while Castro is an extremely exciting young shortstop, I have a hard time seeing a match there as the Sox just don't have the prospects to get it done... especially now that Middlebrooks has cemented his place as the future at third base.

[Spitball]

Seems like Garza could be a really big pick up for this team and while Castro is an extremely exciting young shortstop, I have a hard time seeing a match there as the Sox just don't have the prospects to get it done... especially now that Middlebrooks has cemented his place as the future at third base.

 

It will be interesting to see how Epstein handles being a seller after years of being on the other end. There are a lot of expectations of him so he better not mess it up. Garza will bring him a good haul, but I very much doubt Castro goes anywhere.

 

Dempster will be a different story though. He will be a free agent so he will not be under team control after this year. I also believe he is a tougher and better pitcher than Garza.

[evilhand]

I don't agree that Dempster is a better pitcher than Garza. Garza has pitched successfully in the AL before, Dempster has not. Both would be good pick ups for the Sox, though, if the price is right.

 

I also wouldn't be surprised to see Castro traded. I could see a team like Tampa thinking he's worth the price and moving two prospects who are near major league ready. They still have a ton of talent on the farm. The Rangers are set at short, so they're unlikely, but the Pirates, Padres, Mariners, Cardinals, Blue Jays and Athletics all have a number of top 100 prospects this year and might see Castro as worth the cost.

 

It's probably not likely to happen, but I wouldn't be shocked if it did.

[Spitball]

I don't agree that Dempster is a better pitcher than Garza. Garza has pitched successfully in the AL before' date=' Dempster has not. Both would be good pick ups for the Sox, though, if the price is right.[/quote']

 

Actually, on an even plane this year, they are statistically pretty close. Garza's last two years in the AL showed regression. But, those are not the main points that should make Dempster more attractive to the Sox.

 

Garza will be very expensive in terms of prospects. He is under team control for longer and Theo will have to cash in on his value...or just keep him. Dempster will be a rental for two months. If he isn't traded, the Cubs lose him for nothing.

 

I don't want the Sox to strip the farm any more than it has been for a headcase like Garza.

 

I also wouldn't be surprised to see Castro traded. I could see a team like Tampa thinking he's worth the price and moving two prospects who are near major league ready. They still have a ton of talent on the farm. The Rangers are set at short, so they're unlikely, but the Pirates, Padres, Mariners, Cardinals, Blue Jays and Athletics all have a number of top 100 prospects this year and might see Castro as worth the cost.

 

It's probably not likely to happen, but I wouldn't be shocked if it did.

 

I would be shocked if a 22-year-old shortstop with a 200 hit season already under his belt would go for just major league ready prospects. Like the article says, "impact" prospects meaning Mike Trout-like talents.

 

I very much doubt Castro is traded. They will dangle him, but the asking price will be ridiculous.

[evilhand]

Actually, on an even plane this year, they are statistically pretty close. Garza's last two years in the AL showed regression. But, those are not the main points that should make Dempster more attractive to the Sox.

 

Garza will be very expensive in terms of prospects. He is under team control for longer and Theo will have to cash in on his value...or just keep him. Dempster will be a rental for two months. If he isn't traded, the Cubs lose him for nothing.

 

I don't want the Sox to strip the farm any more than it has been for a headcase like Garza.

 

I agree that Dempster is probably the better target for the Sox as they need a short term plug more than a long term rotation piece. With Doubront looking like a serious long term piece of the rotation and the hope that Bard can put it together as a starter still lingering, the team has six starting pitchers lined up for the 2013 season already. They'll definitely need help this year, though, when Doubront and Bard are inevitably moved back to the pen.

 

I would be shocked if a 22-year-old shortstop with a 200 hit season already under his belt would go for just major league ready prospects. Like the article says, "impact" prospects meaning Mike Trout-like talents.

 

I very much doubt Castro is traded. They will dangle him, but the asking price will be ridiculous.

 

Maybe Trout a year ago, but certainly not Trout this year. Teams just don't trade prospects that are that advanced with ceilings that high. Theo wouldn't waste time asking for prospects that good, mostly because there are none. Trout is in the majors, as is Harper. Matt Moore, the best pitcher in the top 100 this year has already been promoted as well. After that there's a significant drop in quality to guys like Shelby Miller, Julio Teheran, or Jurickson Profar.

 

So yes, the price will be extremely high, but that doesn't mean a trade can't happen. I agree it's unlikely, but it really wouldn't be a shock to see someone overpay to get him.

 

Chances are Theo is just finding out what he's worth, but he specifically mentioned Castro and the price for a reason.

[Spitball]

Maybe Trout a year ago, but certainly not Trout this year. Teams just don't trade prospects that are that advanced with ceilings that high. Theo wouldn't waste time asking for prospects that good, mostly because there are none. Trout is in the majors, as is Harper. Matt Moore, the best pitcher in the top 100 this year has already been promoted as well. After that there's a significant drop in quality to guys like Shelby Miller, Julio Teheran, or Jurickson Profar.

 

So yes, the price will be extremely high, but that doesn't mean a trade can't happen. I agree it's unlikely, but it really wouldn't be a shock to see someone overpay to get him.

.

 

This is why it won't happen. Castro is young, talented, and under control for several years. Also, he is an offensive force at an important position that typically does not provide 200 hit seasons.

[SoxSport]

Youkilis may well get dealt along with one of those extra outfielders before the deadline--for a starter, maybe. If Youks can show enough. Looks pretty good now, but he hasn't established he can stay healthy playing 3B.

[Spitball]

Youkilis may well get dealt along with one of those extra outfielders before the deadline--for a starter' date=' maybe. If Youks can show enough. Looks pretty good now, but he hasn't established he can stay healthy playing 3B.[/quote']

 

I thought the Reds were a natural trade partner here until rookie Todd Frazier started hitting so competently and playing third so well.

[Spitball]

This is why it won't happen. Castro is young' date=' talented, and under control for several years. Also, he is an offensive force at an important position that typically does not provide 200 hit seasons.[/quote']

 

Add Castro to the untouchables. I believe a reporter was looking to create some excitement.

 

http://espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/story/_/id/7994641/theo-epstein-chicago-cubs-not-considering-trading-starlin-castro